Spike-extractor.



'N0-.785,020 PATENTED MAR. 174, 1905,

' G. P. PBARSON.

SPIKE EXTRAGTOR..

APPLICATION ILED FEB. 29. 1904.

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@mi livwaowo W y @wwwv NITRD STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

GEORGE FOSTER PEARSON, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPIKE-EXTRACTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,020, dated March 14, 1905.

Application led February Z9, 1904. Serial No. 195,762.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE FOSTER PEAR- SON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Spike-Extractors; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The invention relates to claw-bars for extracting spikes; and it consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

The object of the invention is to facilitate the extraction of a spike from its seat in the tie.

The improved claw-bar belongs to that class wherein the bar is provided withla pivoted fulcrum-piece.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the claw-barhaving the integral enlarged angular-shaped foot extending obliquely to the axis of the handlebar. This foot has the front curved pointed toe or claw portion A, projecting forward of the front plane of the handle-bar, and the rearward-projecting heel portion B, joined to said claw portion by the solid body of the foot, having a convex cam-base extending in a continuous gradually-increasing curve from the pointed toe to the rear of the heel portion and terminated by a rentrant curve extending to the rear plane of the handle-bar. On each side of the point portion are the latoral swells B, which serve as stop-shoulders to prevent 7the fulcrum-piece from swinging forward beyond a nearly-alined position with reference tothe handle-bar, at the sam-e time permitting said. fulcrumiece to swing well forward when the bar is 1n upright position. The fulcrum-piece C is pivoted to the projecting heel portion of the foot by a pivot-pin. The fulcrum-piece is of yoke or U form, having its cheeks or branches D D formed with 5o openings at their upper ends for the pivotpin. These two branches are solidly connected at their lower ends by a bridge connection E, in rear of which, however, is a recess or interval F. In this position also the serrated bottom of the fulcrum-piece, which is formed across the bridge thereof, is at nearly right angles to the claw-bar, and the fulcrum-piece itself is nearly parallel to the claw-bar. A slight interval is also formed in front between the branches, so that their forward lower rounded corners H and the similar rounded corner of the bridge connection E are unobstructed. The bridge E is corrugated or toothed upon its lower surface, as at G. The fulcrum-piece has its pivot-bearings in line with the rear plane of the handle-bar and when in upright position has a forward extension I and a rear extension T-with reference to a vertical line dropped from the center of the pivot-pin. The fulcrum-piece hangs by its branches from the pivot of the heel portion of the foot and when the bar is in upright position swings forward, bringing its serrated bottom under the curvature of the cam-bottom of the foot, covering it in. As the fulcrum-piece has its main portion in rear of the vertical pivot-line, it will swing forward against the rear stops of the front portion.

In using this claw-bar for extracting spikes which are very firmly embedded in the tie the claw-point portion is engaged under the head of the spike by striking said point portion against said head until a purchase is obtained under the' same. These strokes are easilymade in repetition, because the fulcrumpiece is in this action in inclined position, as shown inFigure 1 of the drawings, and it slides freely to the rear on its rounded corner H. The handle being depressed, the spike is withdrawn slightly or started from its seat in the tie. By continuing the downward movement of the handle-bar the foot of the clai fbar is rocked to the rear on the convex base, as shown in Fig, 2, and it may be rocked back on the rearward-projecting heel, if necessary, as the rear interval between the cheeks of the fulcrum-piece will so permit. In the second movement the handle is raised and the foot rocking forwardon its base the fulcrum- IOO . claw-point.

piece gradually slides forward and approaches more and more the upright position until the handle-bar approaches the limit of its upward movement, when the fulcrum-piece takes the upright position, covering in the main portion of the cam-foot and abutting against the lateral swells B of the claw. In this position the bottom of the fulcrum-piece rests squarely upon the tie and the spike can be readily raised entirelyT out of its bearing therein. In extracting a spike which is not iirmly embedded in the tie the claw-bar can be placed at once in vertical or nearly-vertical position and in engagement with the spikehead, the fulcrum-piece being in upright position and engaging the tie by its toothed lower surface, which is in the plane of the In this position a single movement of the claw-bar will entirely extract the spike.

Having described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a claw-bar having an integral cam-foot provided with lateral stop-shoulders and projecting forward of the bar to form a claw-toe7 said cam-foot projecting in rear of the barto form a rounded heel, said toe and heel being connected by a cam-bottom of gradually-increasing curvature from toe to heel, of a pendent U-forrn fulcrum-piece pivoted to said heel and having a straight serrated bottom formed across the bridge of said piece, said serrated bottom being at nearly right angles to the upright claw-bar and terminating in front in a rounded corner, said fulcrum-piece abutting against said lateral stop-shoulders at the limit of its forward movement, when the claw-bar and fulcrum-piece are nearly parallel, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE FOSTER PEARSON AVlitnesses:

HERBERT C. EMERY, AGEORGE M. ANDERSON, 

